AFRICOM commander warns of rising Chinese, Russian influence in Africa as U.S. development presence contracts
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Summary
General Michael Langley told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China and Russia are expanding military, economic and information operations across Africa and that recent reductions in U.S. USAID presence risk ceding influence; he urged continued security cooperation and more ISR and integrated air defenses for partner protection.
General Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Africa is a strategic theater where China and Russia are increasing presence through basing, infrastructure investment and security assistance.
“Everything we do at United States Africa Command has one overarching goal in mind: achieving peace through strength,” Langley said in his opening remarks. He described three lines of Chinese effort — basing initiatives, geostrategic influence in international bodies, and geoeconomic access to critical minerals — and said those activities pose long-term challenges to U.S. interests in the region.
Langley warned that Russia has sought to expand its footprint through private military companies and security relationships, noting coverage of Wagner-affiliated structures and their logistics nodes in Libya. He also highlighted China’s base in Djibouti and potential Chinese pursuit of additional Atlantic coast access that “would change the whole calculus” of maritime posture, echoing committee concerns.
On development and soft power, both Langley and senators said the recent consolidation of USAID programming and a reduced in-country U.S. presence have created openings that Chinese and Russian actors are trying to exploit. “They’re trying to replicate what we do,” Langley said of Chinese efforts to fill gaps in health and development programs; he added the United States “owns the facts” about what works but must better shape the narrative.
Langley described AFRICOM’s operational needs as prioritizing force protection, integrated air and missile defense and more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to monitor terrorists, maritime threats and malign actor activity. He said additional armed ISR platforms would improve targeting and protection for partners in regions such as Somalia and the Sahel.
Ending note: The AFRICOM commander urged Congress and interagency partners to consider how to sustain U.S. influence and build partner institutional capacity in Africa as Beijing and Moscow deepen economic, military and information ties across the continent.